True College Verdict
C

South Mountain Community College

Phoenix, AZ · 3,645 undergraduates · 35% receive Pell Grants
PublicMainly certificates

About average. It ranks 908 of 1,952 certificate schools on student outcomes, with an overall score of 50.2 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
Yes
Average net price $10,386 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $17,716.
Will most students finish?
No
17% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 71%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $7,875 against earnings of $44,724, a ratio of 0.18. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

Student reviews are coming soon

We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.

Why it is good

  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $44,724, higher than 77% of certificate schools.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $7,875 in federal loans against earnings of $44,724.
  • Affordable: the average student pays about $10,386 a year after grants, cheaper than 78% of certificate schools.

Why it is bad

  • Only 17% of students graduate. 99% of certificate schools do better.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
17%
Better than 1% of similar colleges. Typical: 71%
Return for year 2
n/a
Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$44,724
Better than 77% of similar colleges. Typical: $36,576
Debt at graduation
$7,875
Better than 87% of similar colleges. Typical: $9,500
Net price per year
$10,386
Better than 78% of similar colleges. Typical: $17,716
Published tuition
$2,358
Out of state: $8,958

Programs and early earnings

Associate degrees: largest programs

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:

Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost

The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other certificate schools. Individual majors can be much better or worse.